A lot can — and likely will — change between now and Dec. 26 at 2 p.m., but the Pitt Panthers have opened as a two-score favorite in the GameAbove Sports Bowl.
Pitt and Toledo are slated to kick off at Ford Field in Detroit in the GameAbove Sports Bowl, formerly known as the Quick Lane Bowl.
DraftKings has set Pitt as a 9.5-point neutral site favorite, with a bet for or against the spread holding -110 odds. The total point spread has been set at 51.5 points, and a Moneyline bet for the Panthers holds -325 odds.
FanDuel has set Pitt as an 8.5-point neutral site favorite, with a bet either way holding -110 odds. The total point spread has been set at 51.5 points, and a Moneyline bet for the Panthers holds -310 odds.
Pat Narduzzi expressed his excitement for the GameAbove Sports Bowl with a statement Sunday afternoon.
“On behalf of our entire football program, I want to thank the Detroit Lions organization and GameAbove Sports Bowl for the opportunity to play one more time in 2024,” Pat Narduzzi said in the Pitt release. “I have great respect for Coach Jason Candle and his Toledo program.
“They are an incredibly consistent winner. They won 11 games a year ago, and this season defeated an SEC team in Mississippi State and beat the same Northern Illinois team that gave Notre Dame its only loss. We look forward to the challenge.”
Toledo had a down season by its recent lofty standards, going 7-5 (4-4 MAC) and not making the conference championship game. The Rockets went 11-3 last season with a win against Miami (Oh.) in the title game.
The Rockets are led this season by quarterback Tucker Gleason, who has thrown 22 touchdowns this season, and the defense is holding opponents to just 21.3 points per game.
Pitt hasn’t met Toledo in a game since 2006, a 45-3 win for the Panthers at what was then Heinz Field. Pitt and Toledo have met three times in the series history, with each team winning games played at their home stadium — Pitt at home in 2002 and Toledo at home in 2003. They’ve never met in a neutral site matchup.
